Metagenomic and geochemical characterization of pockmarked sediments overlaying the Troll petroleum reservoir in the North Sea

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Pockmarks (depressions in the seabed) have been discovered throughout the world's oceans and are often related to hydrocarbon seepage. Although high concentrations of pockmarks are present in the seabed overlaying the Troll oil and gas reservoir in the northern North Sea, geological surveys have not detected hydrocarbon seepage in this area at the present time. In this study we have used metagenomics to characterize the prokaryotic communities inhabiting the surface sediments in the Troll area in relation to geochemical parameters, particularly related to hydrocarbon presence. We also investigated the possibility of increased potential for methane oxidation related to the pockmarks. Five metagenomes from pockmarks and plain seabed sediments were sequenced by pyrosequencing (Roche/454) technology. In addition, two metagenomes from seabed sediments geologically unlikely to be influenced by hydrocarbon seepage (the Oslofjord) were included. The taxonomic distribution and metabolic potential of the metagenomes were analyzed by multivariate analysis and statistical comparisons to reveal variation within and between the two sampling areas. RESULTS: The main difference identified between the two sampling areas was an overabundance of predominantly autotrophic nitrifiers, especially Nitrosopumilus, and oligotrophic marine Gammaproteobacteria in the Troll metagenomes compared to the Oslofjord. Increased potential for degradation of hydrocarbons, especially aromatic hydrocarbons, was detected in two of the Troll samples: one pockmark sample and one from the plain seabed. Although presence of methanotrophic organisms was indicated in all samples, no overabundance in pockmark samples compared to the Oslofjord samples supports no, or only low level, methane seepage in the Troll pockmarks at the present time. CONCLUSIONS: Given the relatively low content of total organic carbon and great depths of hydrocarbon containing sediments in the Troll area, it is possible that at least part of the carbon source available for the predominantly autotrophic nitrifiers thriving in this area originates from sequential prokaryotic degradation and oxidation of hydrocarbons to CO2. By turning CO2 back into organic carbon this subcommunity could play an important environmental role in these dark oligotrophic sediments. The oxidation of ammonia to nitrite and nitrate in this process could further increase the supply of terminal electron acceptors for hydrocarbon degradation.     

基因枪在大鼠闭塞性血管病基因治疗中的应用

探讨利用基因枪技术转移肝细胞生长因子基因治疗大鼠肢体闭塞性血管病的可行性,构建了携带人肝细胞生长因子（HGF）基因的重组真核表达载体（pUDKH),在制备好大鼠下肢闭塞性血管病模型后,通过基因枪或肌肉直接注射法,向局部缺血部位肌肉中转移pUDKH,每只5ug(基因枪）和12ug(肌肉注射）,应用常规组织病理切片（H．E．染色）及免疫组织化学方法观察血管形成及基因表达,转移pUDKH后第10天,用基因枪和直接注射法转移的局部肌肉组织的HGF的表达明显高于转移空白质粒（pUDK)的对照组,pUDKH组可见明显的小血管新生,而pUKD组至20天时仍未观察到或仅见到极少量的新生血管,基因枪与肌肉注射两组相比血管密度无明显差异,采用基因枪直接转移pUDKH裸露质粒子肢体缺血局部的方法是可行的,转移的基因可在局部有效表达,达到促进血管形成的预期目的。     

京津冀风沙源区沙化土地治理关键技术研究与示范

京津冀风沙源区是我国北方生态屏障的重要组成部分。面向我国北方风沙区沙化土地综合治理、典型脆弱生态修复与保护等重大科技需求,京津冀风沙源区沙化土地治理关键技术研究与示范项目将综合运用长期定位观测、控制实验、多源遥感数据融合、技术示范等方法,重点研究京津冀风沙源区土地沙化形成机制与生态修复机理,研发一批沙化土地治理与产业化关键技术,并在各治理区开展试验示范,集成京津冀风沙源区沙化土地治理与产业化技术体系,构建沙化土地综合整治空间决策支持系统,为京津风沙源治理工程建设、保障京津冀地区生态安全及满足2022年北京冬奥会生态需求提供科技支撑。     

The Analysis of Homegarden Plant Diversity at the Mongolian Household Level in Horqin Sandy Land——A Case Study in Horqin Left Wing Real Banner of Inner Mongolia

In order to show the function of agricultural protection of biodiversity at the level of homegarden, comparative analysis was operated between 20 farmer households through random sampling and farmers recommended in Horqin Left Wing Real Banner Tongliao city Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and 10 farmer households of the Han nationality in the neighborhood. Thirty sampling plots of homegardens are investigated. The result indicates there are 100 homegarden plants in Bashou village, 84 in Hariwusu livestock farm, and 87 in Gongjihao village. It involves the cultivated and wild vegetables, fruits, and plants used for ornamental, medicine and forage. The comparative analysis of species richness demonstrates, among these villages the species richness of Bashou village is highest, while Hariwusu livestock farm is lowest. The former village contributes greatly to the conservation of plant biodiversity. These differences result from their respectively different natural conditions, homegarden areas, homegarden history, homegarden management conditions, traditional knowledge and culture understanding of homegarden manager, local farmers and herdsmen on homegarden plants.The homegarden plants from the three investigated villages are cataloged preliminary in the end of the paper.     

电离辐射对蛋白质分子作用的量子孤波分析

本文运用量子力学方法对蛋白质分子中孤波传播的非线性动力学特征进行了探讨。研究表明：电离辐射产生的自由基对蛋白质分子的伤害将会对携带能量、信息的孤立子波传播产生较为显著的影响。     

Dominant manifestation of pluripotency in embryonic stem cell hybrids with various numbers of somatic chromosomes

Developmental potential was assessed in 8 intra-specific and 20 inter-specific hybrid clones obtained by fusion of embryonic stem (ES) cells with either splenocytes or fetal fibroblasts. Number of chromosomes derived from ES cells in these hybrid clones was stable while contribution of somatic partner varied from single chromosomes to complete complement. This allowed us to compare pluripotency of the hybrid cells with various numbers of somatic chromosomes. Three criteria were used for the assessment: (i) expression of Oct-4 and Nanog genes; (ii) analyses of teratomas generated by subcutaneous injections of the tested cells into immunodeficient mice; (iii) contribution of the hybrid cells in chimeras generated by injection of the tested cells into C57BL blastocysts. All tested hybrid clones showed expression of Oct-4 and Nanog at level comparable to ES cells. Histological and immunofluorescent analyses demonstrated that most teratomas formed from the hybrid cells with different number of somatic chromosomes contained derivatives of three embryonic layers. Tested hybrid clones make similar contribution in various tissues of chimeras in spite of significant differences in the number of somatic chromosomes they contained. The data indicate that pluripotency is manifested as a dominant trait in the ES hybrid cells and does not depend substantially on the number of somatic chromosomes. The latter suggests that the developmental potential derived from ES cells is maintained in ES-somatic cell hybrids by cis-manner and is rather resistant to trans-acting factors emitted from the somatic one.     

Modeling of intraorgan arterial vasculature. I. Steady flow at low Reynolds numbers

Based on the statistical relationships between lengths and diameters of vessels in arterial beds obtained from measurements on plastic casts, a method is proposed for building models of intraorgan arterial vascualtures. The dependences of full hydraulic conductance on the model parameter values have been calculated. Discussed is the choice of adequate models based upon collation of the biophysical characteristics of the vasculatures.     

甲基纤维素辐射降解及工艺研究

介绍了^60Co γ－射线对甲基纤维素的辐射降解作用,初步研究了辐射剂量、剂量率对甲基纤维素粘的影响。评价了甲基纤维素辐照后的贮存稳定性,并对辐射降解工艺进行了探讨。     

Bacillus natto TK-1产脂肽的纯化、抑菌活性及其表面活性剂特性

利用酸沉、醇提和薄层层析等方法从Bacillus natto TK-1 发酵液中分离得到脂肽。TLC结果表明,在迁移值Rf 0.58-0.65处出现单一紫红色条带其为脂肽粗提物。脂肽的临界胶束浓度约115mg/L。在浓度为512mg/L时,脂肽能将水的表面张力显著地降低到30.1mN/m。同时,通过体外抗粘连实验表明,脂肽能显著抑制沙门氏菌、大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌对96孔板固体表面的粘附,其中,对沙门氏菌的抗粘连效果较为明显。通过平板扩散法考察脂肽抑菌活性,结果表明脂肽具有较广泛的抑菌谱,对灰霉和镰胞霉的抑菌能力较强。